Trump slammed after viral clip shows him signing American flag during campaign stop

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Donald Trump has once again found himself in hot water over something seemingly innocuous. This time, the former president is being slammed for signing his name on an American flag -- which many believe is a clear violation of the US Flag Code.

The moment was captured in a short clip that quickly went viral on social media.

The video was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Patriot Takes, an account focused on "researching, monitoring, and exposing right-wing extremism and other threats to democracy."

In the clip, Trump is shown holding a black marker and signing what appears to be his signature on an American flag. The flag is spread across a table, with several people assisting by holding it down as Trump signs on one of the white stripes.

The video was posted on September 12, just one day after Trump attended a ceremony in New York City commemorating the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center. The post suggests the video may have been filmed during the 9/11 anniversary, but Newsweek reported it could not confirm the exact timing of the recording.

Donald Trump slammed by critics on social media

Critics quickly condemned Donald Trump, viewing his actions as a blatant disregard for American values.

Section 8 of the US Flag Code clearly states, "The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature."

In response, many took to social media to excoriate Trump for his actions.

"Trump has disrespected everything that we the people value. He thinks he's running to be a celebrity. Sad!" one posted on X.

"'People should be jailed for desecrating the flag' - Trump," another wrote, quoting the former president.

"I wonder how much he charged them for this?" a third user asked.

"His signature on an American flag is probably the most blatant way of telling he thinks he owns America," someone else alleged.

"Signing the flag is just another way Trump shows his complete disregard for American values. It's not patriotic; it's disrespectful. The Flag Code is there for a reason," read a comment.

"This is what a delusional, narcissistic idiot does — someone who actually knows nothing about America, patriotism and true service," another chimed in. 

Donald Trump's history with the US flag

The US Flag Code may not impose legal penalties for violations, but it serves as an important guideline for showing "respect and patriotism" toward the country. Donald Trump is seemingly aware of this code, as he gave a speech in 2017 emphasizing the importance of respecting the American flag.

"In 1942, Congress passed the United States Flag Code, creating official standards for how we treat our beloved flag. From this code, we teach each new American generation to always show our flag the respect it deserves," Trump said during his address.

Despite the recent controversy, Trump has consistently expressed his love for the American flag. He’s been seen hugging the flag on multiple occasions, a gesture that has become one of his trademark moves.

Trump hugged the US flag during his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February of this year. This wasn’t the first time, either. In June 2018, after a speech at the National Federation of Independent Businesses, he walked over to a flag on stage and embraced it, according to Mashable.

Let’s not forget his 2016 campaign trail, where flag-hugging became a common sight. The US Flag Code doesn’t prohibit hugging the flag, so Trump’s affectionate displays were never really an issue.

Trump isn’t the only one to face criticism over the US Flag Code. In June 2023, President Joe Biden was also called out after a Pride celebration at the White House. The event featured a display of two US flags alongside the Progress Pride flag.

Some argued that the arrangement violated the Flag Code, which states the US flag "should be at the center and at the highest point of the group" of flags when displayed by a staff, according to Newsweek.

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